TDLR staff delivered updates across licensing, examinations, inspections, enforcement and outreach. Notable items included exam-item revisions, a republished candidate information bulletin, implementation of House Bill 5060 continuing-education requirements for barbers (effective Sept. 1, 2025), inspection statistics and early planning for the TDLR

Advisors, educators and TDLR staff debated the validity and timing of the written and practical barbering and cosmetology exams. The board created three work groups to study practical exam administration, earlier written-exam eligibility, and stackable licensing, and directed staff to provide multi-year pass-rate data.

At a TDLR Barbering and Cosmetology summit, legal staff and educators debated whether the state practical exam should remain a licensure requirement. Agency lawyers said the statute allows practicals and schools could be authorized to administer them by rule; survey results showed most schools favor keeping the practical but public commenters were—